Built in 1912, the Smith’s Craftsman bungalow includes a cozy front porch that leads to two front doors.
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When Garrett Smith and his wife, Kelsey, decided to move from Corona to Old Towne, they weren’t just looking for a new house—they wanted to find a property with two homes on the same lot so that his parents, Valerie and Bradford, could live alongside their growing family.
The dream became a realty in 2022 when the family purchased a historic Craftsman bungalow near Maple and Grand, complete with a freestanding garage that could be converted into a two-bedroom cottage for his parents.
It’s a full-circle moment for the family members to be living so close to Chapman University, where Valerie and Bradford attended in the early 1980s, and Garrett also attended decades later.
The main home’s front door is graced by an orange-themed wreath.
Three generations of the family gather in the kitchen, from left to right: Sawyer, Garrett, Kelsey, Bradford, Valerie and Sullivan.
The view from the dining room showcases the home’s original brick fireplace and double-hung windows.
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Coincidently, the property is close to the chapel where Valerie and Bradford got married.
“Orange is a special place for our family,” says Garrett. “Both our boys were born in the same delivery room at St. Joseph Hospital, as I was. Now, we have a place for three generations within walking distance to all the destinations of Old Towne Orange.”
Built in 1912, the three-bedroom/two bath home was move-in ready and in great condition, thanks to the previous owner who had lived there 40 years. Over time, she had upgraded much of the home, including the kitchen, electrical and plumbing.
Original features in the main home include the beautiful Douglas fir hardwood flooring, along with vintage doors, double-hung windows and built-ins throughout. The original brick fireplace warms the living room adjacent to the home’s original window seat.
The light and airy main living space includes a built-in window seat original to the home, along with an original built-in china cabinet.
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In addition to a cozy front porch, the house has two front doors. Garrett surmises that the original owner may have had a business from an in-home office.
The seller shared some history of the house, and it appears that the first owner was someone named Wilson who was involved in the carpentry trade. The next owner was Charles Meadows, who was a partner at the Orange Post Newspaper and owned a print shop in the Plaza.
Relocating to Orange was a goal for Garrett and Kelsey (originally from Chicago), as well as Garrett’s parents, who were living in Apple Valley at the time and looking to downsize.
After more than a year of searching, they found the perfect home and made an offer the same day the home was listed.
Garrett, Kelsey and the kids enjoy their family-friendly neighborhood in Old Towne.
In the adjacent cottage where Bradford and Valerie live, the primary living area showcases such accents as a salvaged window pane, a restored vintage door used for the pantry, and other features that pay homage to the era of the main house.
Bradford and Valerie in the kitchen of their charming cottage that they remodeled from the freestanding garage.
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“Even though we lived in Corona for some time, we loved to visit Orange and would always walk around the Plaza in the evenings and on the weekends,” says Kelsey.
Now living in the back cottage, Valerie and Bradford were integral in all of the remodeling decisions and oversaw the project themselves, adhering to Old Towne’s preservation requirements. Keeping the foundation and salvaging the original exterior siding, they gutted the entire garage and added vaulted ceilings supported by a large beam in lieu of rafters.
Tasteful, creative touches abound in what is now a contemporary 800-square-foot cottage with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
“We came up with a lot of innovative ideas for small-home living, including pocket doors and a Murphy bed, all while leveraging every inch of space,” says Valerie. “We hired a contractor and made sure the intricacies of the inside paid homage to the era.”
The putting green in the backyard provides one of many fun activities for three generations of Smith boys.
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With the garage/cottage remodel underway, they wanted the interior to be in keeping with the era of the property. For example, the kitchen pantry features a salvaged door from the original garage, and their headboard is also made from the main-house cabinet doors.
Living in Old Towne allows the entire family to stay connected to their favorite activities while going about their day-to-day lives. Amid the demands of raising two young boys (Sawyer, age 4, and Sullivan, age 2), Garrett and Kelsey both juggle full-time careers. Kelsey is a communications director for a beverage distributor and Garrett is a financial and analytics manager in the food industry.
Garrett was also recently elected Treasurer for the City of Orange and has served on the board of the Old Towne Preservation Association (OTPA).
A historic Black Willow tree stands sentry as the centerpiece of the backyard, shading both homes.
Bradford and his grandsons strike a pose on the back of his Harley.
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Meanwhile, Valerie relishes the opportunity to remain active with the Alumni board and Town & Gown board at Chapman University. Both Bradford and Valerie graduated from Chapman in the 1980s and enjoy staying close to the community. Valerie is also currently a board member of OTPA.
Returning to Old Towne has been enriching for the family. They appreciate their friendly neighborhood, which is perfect for bike riding, taking strolls or spending time with neighbors.
“What we are creating through this property has fulfilled a family vision, and we’re so fortunate to have the opportunity to live in a three-generation household in a close-knit community,” says Garrett. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”
